Jeremy's 77 T/A Project

[Jdseibe]

its not in horrible shape, but it is a little rough, the only reason I don't feel bad cutting it up is that its a rebuilt title car, I got it for a decent price and can make a little of that back by parting out the stuff I don't need, there is definitely some tweaking of the frame/unibody somewhere because things just don't line up well haha, but for now I plan on driving it and having some fun with it until I am ready to start pulling it apart

[Jdseibe]

So I plan to Pull the LS1 this winter to have it built, the engine shop I am working with wants me to get them something sooner than later, basically I am trying to keep cost down as much as possible, they are building me an engine and the labor is covered, so all I have to pay out of pocket is for parts. I would like to squeeze as much power out of it as possible, for a budget, while also keeping it streetable. basically my plan was this..

- Buy a set of 243/799 heads and have them rebuilt, valve job, mild porting, upgraded springs
- big-ish cam (MS3 or something like it?)
- LS7 lifters
- Ported LS6 oil pump
- LS6 Intake (eventually upgraded injectors and tune)
- Timing set?

the question i have is, do i need to replace any of the rotating assembly? I'm sure they'll get a master rebuild kit with new gaskets, bearings, etc, just trying to get opinions on what i should do with the build. also a second question, I was considering listing up the LS1 for sale and maybe seeing if I could snag a truck 6.0 instead, if I am building the LS1 would it be about the same effort to do something like an LQ4/LQ9?

I am going to get an engine to them this fall/winter and then probably re-install it back in my 98 until its ready to go into the 77, I am just having too much fun with the 98 to part it out now (especially since its not ready for the drivetrain yet anyways.)

any input would be appreciated.

[MP81]

You'll have more displacement with the 6.0L, so you have more power potential there - but it also is an iron block, so it's heavier. Stock rotating assembly on either should be fine.

I'll be looking at the same situation down the road when I swap to an LS3 - pulling so much weight off the front end will likely require some modification to the springs...

Entirely unrelated - but have you considered keeping the '98? If you're going to go through the hassle of removing and then reinstalling an engine - it might as well stay put - especially if you're actually enjoying the car. Just a thought. Keep the '98 for your "regular" fun car, and the '77 for when you want something different and something old school?

[Jdseibe]

You'll have more displacement with the 6.0L, so you have more power potential there - but it also is an iron block, so it's heavier. Stock rotating assembly on either should be fine.

I'll be looking at the same situation down the road when I swap to an LS3 - pulling so much weight off the front end will likely require some modification to the springs...

Entirely unrelated - but have you considered keeping the '98? If you're going to go through the hassle of removing and then reinstalling an engine - it might as well stay put - especially if you're actually enjoying the car. Just a thought. Keep the '98 for your "regular" fun car, and the '77 for when you want something different and something old school?

yea I have, but the 98 is rough, the pictures I've taken don't show the extent of roughness, the unibody is tweaked, not a single panel lines up, the whole thing is tweaked enough that panels on the inside don't line up right either, so it needs money invested into it to make it what I would like, which I can't justify spending a bunch of money on a rebuilt salvage car, even if i were to keep it and what not, the trans needs rebuilt at some point, which at that point the engine is ready to be pulled lol, pulling the engine and stuff doesn't scare me, truthfully if I the engine shop wasn't getting on my case about it, I wouldn't be thinking about going this route at all.

[MP81]

I was wondering if something was up with the car. Carry on then!

[Jdseibe]

So I guess time for an update on the project, I've made a little headway and am starting to buy parts

The 77 Engine and Transmission have been pulled and sold!

While under the car I was able to inspect the floor boards and subframe a bit more, the floorboards do seem to be pretty solid, but I will need to pull carpet and start stripping everything down to really know what the condition is. But while I was under the car I realized that the subframe is soft along the bottom of the car, probably because the car had sunk into the ground and was pretty much sitting on them when i bought it. So I found a complete used subframe and picked it up.

The guy I sold the engine and transmission to was very knowledgeable about these cars so he had hopped in the car and pulled my driver side rear seat out and checked out the floor and said that was a bad spot for rust on these cars and said that it looked awesome, paint was still shiny there, so i guess thats promising haha.

So the next steps with the car itself is to take the new subframe and start modifying it for the LS1, which is a little bit of notching for the alternator and different motor mounts, then I will get it stripped down and cleaned up to paint / coat it. after that is all done I will do all the front suspension components and get it all ready to slap in, then onto the rest of the car.

The LS1 is at the machine shop now getting built, should be getting it back soon, the details for that engine are below, hoping to make some decent power with it

1998 LS1
Swap from 806 Heads (69cc chambers) -> 799 Heads (64.45 cc chambers)
Head Porting and Polished
Valve Job
BTR Stage 3 Cam with upgraded springs
Stock rocker arms with trunnion upgrade (for now)
Adjustable double roller timing set
High Volume Oil Pump
ARP Rod, Head, and Main Stud Kits
Dorman LS2 Intake Manifold (ported)
Warr 92mm TB
Bosch 36lb Injectors
99+ ECM (411, easier to tune)
Speed Engineering 1 7/8" 304 Stainless Headers

and after all the mods and so forth I plan to have it dyno tuned, should be a pretty solid setup.

[Jdseibe]

here is a link to my google photos album with all the pics ive taken so far of the car / project.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uMGCFHQ5rN72JTPv9

[MP81]

Excellent! Doing the suspension upgrades while you have all that access? Getting the springs out will be a hell of a lot easier, given you can compress them to the upper portion of the subframe with the inner fenders out, since they index into the subframe.

[TSTONE]

I'm excited to see your project moving forward. I still have some odds and ends available if you need stuff

[Jdseibe]

I'm excited to see your project moving forward. I still have some odds and ends available if you need stuff

what kind of odds and ends? haha

[Jdseibe]

Hey All,

Just going to drop a list of parts I'm looking to buy very soon, so if you have any of these and want to make a deal let me know!

LS1 Parts:
- 90mm LS1 drive by cable TB
- LS1 36lb injectors (going to reuse stock rails, need to be direct fit)
- LS1 t56 clutch / flywheel (not really looking for new here, mostly in case someone bought something and went a different route)
- Catch Can
- 99+ ECM (0411)

T/A Parts:
- 77 grill inserts
- 77 shaker scoop ( the one I have is for earlier 2nd gens)
- 2nd gen wheel flares (front and back)

I will have more parts I need for sure, but this is what I know off the top of my head so far

[TSTONE]

Hey All,

T/A Parts:
- 77 grill inserts
- 77 shaker scoop ( the one I have is for earlier 2nd gens)
- 2nd gen wheel flares (front and back)

I will have more parts I need for sure, but this is what I know off the top of my head so far

A lot depends on how original you want to be?

77 vs 78 grills have a different pattern - i'll have to look but i think I have a set of 78's

I sold my extra shaker/scoop - for 77 the correct was a lower rise scoop - again if you're not going OE, I actually prefer the higher scoop.

I have a hood though and a RF fender (nose damage but rust free - good donor or can be straightened by a body magician)

I have OE set of wheel flares but they have issues which is why I chose to go A/M during my restore.

I have lots of trim shit that would need to go through.

[TSTONE]

Also recommend calling this guy - his name is Roy. Really good guy known him for years.
1977 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird - $4500 (Milford)

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1977 pontiac firebird trans am
condition: good
cylinders: 8 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
paint color: black
size: mid-size
title status: clean
transmission: automatic
type: coupe
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am PROJECT CAR Pontiac 400 Engine Runs Automatic Build A Bandit Trans Am Georgia Car Have Most Parts Not Sure What Rims Will Be On The Trans Am At The Time Of Sale Front Clip Is Off At This Time $4500 call or text 248 701-4778